Wednesday, 6 November 2013

Two months ago, the World Bank predicted an economic growth for
Sub-Saharan Africa for the next 3 years. Forgive me my dear reader for I
am not in position to furnish you with the better and further
particulars of this prediction as my economics cannot analyze this
report to confirm their prediction, so let us take this prediction on
the World Bank’s pink sheet for now. And besides the trusting ratings of
World Bank is near 100% if not 100% so there is no need to doubt this
prediction.

Back to the pink sheet from World Bank. On the face of this pink
sheet, I would say it is good news for the continent as it implies a
reduction of poverty, elimination of hunger, the building and improving
of infrastructure and many morein the coming few years. As much as I
would love to talk about poverty and hunger please permit me to comment
on the infrastructure bit . I believe if you have spent your entire
undergraduate years living with students of planning and building
technology programmes like I have, you will understand my interest in
infrastructure plans is not only born out of public health.

Infrastructure plans! I imagine they will be far advanced in
Sub-Saharan African countries, as their leaders like all leaders in
other continents are keen on making their countries better for both
their citizens and those of other countries and other continents. I
believe in these plans will be roads, bridges, electrical grids etc. I
also believe their various ministers, mayors, district chief executives
are having a hard time deciding on which plan to approve or disapprove,
continue or terminate or make changes to meet objectives. I hope in
these objectives will be one that seeks to prevent disease, promote and
protect the health and wellbeing of Sub-Saharan Africans. One of the
objective towards health and wellbeing of the population I hope to see
will be one that seeks to provide a supportive physical activity
environment.

In my post yesterday on the international student,
I mentioned how a supportive environment must be built to encourage
individuals to be physically active and also stay active as this
together with other health behaviours (eating balanced diet, no smoking)
will improve the quality and length of life? Hence on my mind today are
there questions. Do the infrastructure plans that are being approved or
executed by the transport ministry, city, and town councils in Africa
have provisions made for cycling lanes to encourage more cycling among
their citizens and less bus and train transport? Do the road
infrastructure plans being approved or executed have in them demarcated
pedestrian walkways and zebra crossings to encourage people to walk and
also have traffic lights and street lights been checked to ensure they
have been properly placed to encourage walking at all times? Yes an all
time-walking by people. You know we are different people with different
schedules so a one sized jacket cannot fit as all. Thus my call for the
need to ensure all individuals can engage in physical activities that
suit their schedule. I know this will mean adequate security in our
cities and towns so let us hope, the city and town councils, ministers
and governments have included security in their plans. Have sport
centres being included in ther country, cities and towns’ infrastructure
plans? Have opens spaces and parks being demarcated in these plans?

I can go on and on with questions but let me not bore you with my
numerous questions. You know when it comes to the health and wellbeing
of a population questions are always on my mind. In this situation, my
concerns are as result of how it is difficult to find cycling pathways,
open spaces and parks in the country I hail from. I wonder how many
there even are. It is also difficult to for me to go for a walk as
pedestrian walkways and traffic lights are either poorly placed or
absent. Even if I wanted to visit a sport centre or gym, I would have to
travel quite a distance to get to one and if I got to one, the price
will be another headache I have to painfully endure as it is high due it
being privately owned and also not having the owner speaking the
promotions language. All these have made my mind to be filled with too
many questions.

I strongly believe when a supportive physical activity environment is
built, together with other factors (food etc.), the predicted booming
economy would not just be felt in the pockets of Sub-Saharan Africans
but also in their healthy bones and flesh. For what use will the money
be for an ailing Sub-Saharan African body if not for treating illness?
Perhaps, you might not be a Sub-Saharan African, but these concerns of
mine on a supportive physical activity environment which you have read
are not just concerns for only Sub-Saharan Africans but for every
individual, city, town and country as we all deserve better health and
wellbeing. Thus, I believe it is about time, we all start taking
interests in the infrastructure plans of our town, city or country.
My dear reader, considering the benefits of being and staying active
(diary of an international student), am wondering, if it is about time
leaders of Sub-Saharan Africa and all other continents call KPMG (in
this instance the public health officer) to audit the pink sheets
(infrastructure plans) presented by petitioners (planners) before they
are approved and to be executed especially if they are not doing so?
Should populations take keen interest in these plans or should they
place their faith in their town, city and country planners?

As I end this post, my last question is this, while some of us wait
for a supportive environment to assist in being and staying active, are
there any basic things we can do to keep us, active?